Sorry but sprinkler piping IS permitted in the electrical room. There would be no way possible to be code compliant if all you could do is pop in a sidewall head in the size of electrical rooms I see. In sub-paragraph(C) as you quoted specifically refers to the piping related to sprinkler systems not just water spray discharge. In the NEC Handbook there is an Exhibit and extensive clarification which clearly depicts the routing of sprinkler piping within the electrical room.
The dedicated space above the unit per NFPA 70 only extends to 6ft above the unit, if your ceiling was at 15 or 20ft and the dedicated space only extended to 12ft above the floor there is no restriction on the routing of systems directly above the equipment as long as a system is on place that would protect the electrical equipment below from leaks, condensation or breaks such that no damage would occur to the electrical equipment below. This is so commonly misinterpreted and misunderstood you can't believe how many times I've had to preach this sermon. Craig L. Prahl, CET Fire Protection CH2MHILL Lockwood Greene 1500 International Drive Spartanburg, SC 29304-0491 Direct - 864.599.4102 Fax - 864.599.8439 CH2MHILL Extension 74102 [email protected] -----Original Message----- From: [email protected] [mailto:[email protected]] On Behalf Of John Drucker Sent: Saturday, January 29, 2011 7:55 PM To: [email protected]; [email protected] Subject: RE: Electrical Rooms 2008 NFPA-70 (NEC) 110.26(F) (F) Dedicated Equipment Space. All switchboards, panelboards, distribution boards, and motor control centers shall be located in dedicated spaces and protected from damage. (1) Indoor. Indoor installations shall comply with 110.26(F)(1)(a) through (F)(1)(d). (a) Dedicated Electrical Space. The space equal to the width and depth of the equipment and extending from the floor to a height of 1.8 m (6 ft) above the equipment or to the structural ceiling, whichever is lower, shall be dedicated to the electrical installation. No piping, ducts, leak protection apparatus, or other equipment foreign to the electrical installation shall be located in this zone. Exception: Suspended ceilings with removable panels shall be permitted within the 1.8-m (6-ft) zone. (b) Foreign Systems. The AREA ABOVE THE DEDICATED SPACE required by 110.26(F)(1)(a) SHALL BE PERMITTED TO CONTAIN FOREIGN SYSTEMS, provided PROTECTION IS INSTALLED to avoid damage to the electrical equipment from condensation, LEAKS, OR BREAKS IN SUCH FOREIGN SYSTEMS. (c) Sprinkler Protection. Sprinkler PROTECTION shall be permitted for the dedicated space where the piping complies with this section. (d) Suspended Ceilings. A dropped, suspended, or similar ceiling that does not add strength to the building structure shall not be considered a structural ceiling. In other words the dedicated equipment space is a three dimensional exclusion zone above and around switchboards, panelboards, distribution boards, and motor control centers which is reserved for electrical wiring only. The space begins at the floor, the width and depth of the equipment and to a height of 6ft above the equipment or to the STRUCTURAL ceiling whichever is LOWER. So keep out unless you're the electrician. Take heed of (C), the operative term is PROTECTION not PIPING. So you can spray water in the dedicated space, just don't run the pipe in there. Hope this helps, John Drucker, CET Fire Protection Subcode Official Fire/Building/Electrical Inspector Fire Marshals Office Borough of Red Bank, NJ Not the official position of any agency, association, committee or otherwise. Obtain required applications, permits, inspections and approvals from Authority(s) Having Jurisdiction. ----Original Message----- From: [email protected] [mailto:[email protected]] On Behalf Of steve Sent: Thursday, January 27, 2011 4:09 PM To: AFSA Subject: Re: Electrical Rooms And it's the electrical code. We get comments and RFI's all the time that assume the electrical code prohibits piping from passing through electrical rooms. What the code says is to keep piping out of the "Dedicated Space" above equipment, all the way up to the deck or to below a rated ceiling. SML Sent from my Verizon Wireless BlackBerry -----Original Message----- From: "Brad Casterline" <[email protected]> Sender: [email protected] Date: Thu, 27 Jan 2011 14:53:02 To: <[email protected]> Reply-To: [email protected] Subject: RE: Electrical Rooms Stay out of the air space from the top of all panels up bcoz that is where the conduit is and your pipe won't fly there -----Original Message----- From: Brian Harris [mailto:[email protected]] Sent: Thursday, January 27, 2011 1:48 PM To: [email protected] Subject: Electrical Rooms I'm being lazy but does anybody know off the top of their head if you can run sprinkler lines over an Electrical room if it has a ceiling? Thanks! Brian Harris First Defense Fire Protection 11957 Ramah Church Road Huntersville, NC 28078 Phone: 704.948.3506 Fax: 704.948.3507 Nicet # 128476 ======= Email scanned by PC Tools - No viruses or spyware found. 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